---
title: Ali: "Our numbers came from India via the Arabs." His mate from Flor… — Ideas on the move: numbers, paper, let… · tree and pragmatics
description: Ali: "Our numbers came from India via the Arabs." His mate from Florence: "Fun fact, Florence literally banned 'em!" Who's right? Test 1 · ★ of lesson 75 «Ideas on the move: numbers, paper, letters, chess and news» of the history course of Mova's primary school, with the dependency tree and pragmati
---

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# Test 1 · ★ · Ideas on the move: numbers, paper, letters, chess and news

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Ali: "Our numbers came from India via the Arabs." His mate from Florence: "Fun fact, Florence literally banned 'em!" Who's right?

<!-- .vintro -->
**Mova's choice:** option 1 · **The right answer:** option 2 · wrong ✗ · **Who acts:** Ali, mate · **What happens:** come, ban, be · **To what, where:** India, Fun fact

<!-- .vabout -->
This is test 1 · ★ of lesson 75 «Ideas on the move: numbers, paper, letters, chess and news» of the history course of Mova's primary school. The page gives the question's syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause, then the 4 options as the student saw them, each with its tree and pragmatics. Every text is parsed by Mova itself. How the student answered it, with the score of every option and why: [the test at school](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/school-run/history/75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news/#t1).

## The question {#question}

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Ali: "Our numbers came from India via the Arabs."

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t1:1
# text = Ali: "Our numbers came from India via the Arabs."
1	Ali	Ali	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
3	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Our	our	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	5	nmod:poss	_	_
5	numbers	number	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	India	India	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	via	via	ADP	IN	_	11	case	_	_
10	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	11	det	_	_
11	Arabs	Arab	PROPN	NNPS	Number=Plur	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** *in a quote* | past | Ali |  |  | India |  | via the Arabs | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from india=Initial\_Location |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* His mate from Florence: "Fun fact, Florence literally banned 'em!"

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t1:2
# text = His mate from Florence: "Fun fact, Florence literally banned 'em!"
1	His	his	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	nsubj:outer	_	_
3	from	from	ADP	IN	_	4	case	_	_
4	Florence	Florence	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	2	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
6	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	Fun	fun	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	amod	_	_
8	fact	fact	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	12	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	8	punct	_	_
10	Florence	Florence	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	12	nsubj	_	_
11	literally	literally	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	banned	ban	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
13	'em	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	12	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	!	!	PUNCT	.	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ban** *in a quote* | past | India's mate from Florence | Fun fact |  |  |  | literally *property* | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer they=Theme |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 3:* Who's right?

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t1:3
# text = Who's right?
1	Who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	3	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	's	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	3	cop	_	_
3	right	right	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | right *property* | tree rules |

## The options {#options}

### Option 1 · ← Mova's choice {#o1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only the mate; digits came from Florence and spread to India

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t1:o1:1
# text = Only the mate; digits came from Florence and spread to India
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	mate	mate	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	digits	digit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	Florence	Florence	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	_
9	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	spread	spread	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	conj	_	_
11	to	to	ADP	IN	_	12	case	_	_
12	India	India	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | digits | the mate |  | Florence |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from florence=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **spread** | past | digits *not said here* |  | India |  |  |  | vn appear-48.1.1 «NP V»: agent=Theme |

### Option 2 · ✓ the right answer {#o2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Both: the digits came from India via Arabic scholars, and Florence banned them in 1299

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t1:o2:1
# text = Both: the digits came from India via Arabic scholars, and Florence banned them in 1299
1	Both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	5	punct	_	_
3	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	digits	digit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	nsubj	_	_
5	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
6	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	India	India	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	5	obl	_	_
8	via	via	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
9	Arabic	Arabic	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	10	compound	_	_
10	scholars	scholar	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	5	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
12	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	14	cc	_	_
13	Florence	Florence	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	banned	ban	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	conj	_	_
15	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	obj	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	1299	1299	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	14	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | Both |  |  | India |  | via Arabic scholars | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from india=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **ban** | past | Florence | digits *= digit* |  | 1299 |  |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer they=Theme |

### Option 3 {#o3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Neither; digits came from Rome

```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t1:o3:1
# text = Neither; digits came from Rome
1	Neither	neither	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	;	;	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	digits	digit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
6	Rome	Rome	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | digits |  |  | Rome |  | neither *property* | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from rome=Initial\_Location |

### Option 4 {#o4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Only Ali; nobody ever banned digits anywhere, because they were always seen as useful

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = question:history:75-ideas-on-the-move-numbers-paper-letters-chess-and-news:t1:o4:1
# text = Only Ali; nobody ever banned digits anywhere, because they were always seen as useful
1	Only	only	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	Ali	Ali	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	;	;	PUNCT	:	_	6	punct	_	_
4	nobody	nobody	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Neg	6	nsubj	_	_
5	ever	ever	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	6	advmod	_	_
6	banned	ban	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	digits	digit	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	obj	_	_
8	anywhere	anywhere	ADV	RB	PronType=Ind	7	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
10	because	because	SCONJ	IN	_	14	mark	_	_
11	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	14	nsubj	_	_
12	were	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	14	aux:pass	_	_
13	always	always	ADV	RB	PronType=Tot	14	advmod	_	_
14	seen	see	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	6	conj	_	_
15	as	as	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
16	useful	useful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	14	obl	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **ban** | past | nobody | Ali |  |  | ever |  | vn forbid-64.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Causer digit=Theme |
| 2 | **see** | past · passive |  | digits *= digit* |  |  |  | as useful; always *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V NP PP.attribute»: subject=Stimulus as useful=Attribute |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the tests of Mova's primary school, written for Mova (`world/data/school/`), as the course runner gave them to the student. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each text read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

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